Karnataka High Court Issues Notice On PIL To Reinstall Parashurama's Statute Inside Theme Park After Litigant Deposits ₹5 Lakh With Registry

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday (September 9) issued notice to the state government on a PIL seeking re-construction of the 33 feet statue of Lord Parashurama inside a theme park in Udupi district, which had to be brought down after a few months of erection.

The petitioner Uday Shetty Muniyal has sought a direction to the state government to consider his representation to reconstruct and reinstall the Lord Parashurama Statue at Parashurama Theme Park in Karkala, by issuing fresh tenders and engaging a reputed sculptor.

The plea claims that in a serious fraud, the statue was constructed using brass instead of bronze, endangering public safety and violating public trust. The upper portion of the statue was dismantled on October 12, 2023 and stored elsewhere, leaving the theme park incomplete and devotees deeply hurt, the plea states. 

A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C M Joshi had on the earlier hearing directed the petition to deposit Rs 5 Lakh with the high court registry within two weeks, to contribute towards raising the statue.  Today the petitioner's counsel informed the bench that the petitioner had deposited the amount in the Registry as directed and sought issuance of notice to the respondents.

Accordingly, the high court issued notice and posted the matter for hearing on December 10.

Muniyal in his petition claims that he is an active member of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and also stood for Assembly elections held in 2023. He submitted that the petition is aimed to protect the religious sentiments and cultural heritage of lakhs of Hindus in the coastal Karnataka region, "for whom Lord Parashurama holds great reverence" as the creator of the Parashurama Kshetra (Tulu Nadu & Karavali regions) according to Hindu belief.

It is said that the Parashurama Theme Park at Karkala was conceptualized and inaugurated with a 33-feet bronze statue of Lord Parashurama on January 27, 2023, funded by the respondent-government departments which is public money.

Subsequently a CID investigation was ordered by the State, and also a complaint was filed against Sculptor Krishna Naik by alleging the statue was constructed using brass instead of bronze.

The plea claims that there is a clear case of violation of Articles 25 and 26 Freedom of Religion and Protection of Religious Institutions, the respondents have blatantly ignored the importance of freedom of religion and the emphasis on its practice.

The installation, maintenance, and worship of the Parashurama statue in Karkala is an essential religious practice for devotees of the Parashurama Kshetra. Its neglect or improper reconstruction constitutes a direct infringement of their right to freely practice religion, the plea states.

Case Title: Uday Shetty Muniyal AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 22881/2025

Appearance: Advocate Srikanth V K for Petitioner